Hart by Melva Ouliaris

Author:Melva Ouliaris
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shawline Publishing Group Pty Ltd
Published: 2023-03-14T06:46:32+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The Veil Lifts

Hart gazed towards the forest. Through the open window of her bed chamber, the mid-morning sun greeted her, dusting her cheeks with its soft, iridescent rays. She hoped something would stir, show up, but all remained quiet. Nothing. A stealthy sigh slid out into the silence. Forest life had grown distant. It had become a stranger to her.

‘Hart? Are you here, child? You seem lost in another place?’ Mary stirred her from her reveries.

‘Hmm?’ was all she could respond to Mary’s questions.

A buzzing insect spinning around near her ear tuned Hart back to the present. She swatted at it. The lightness of the late morning wind gently tickled her nightdress in bouts of teasing play. But her mind refused to join in. Instead, it drowned her in doubts. She bit down on her thumb. Chewing away at it with impenetrable nibbles, her eyes cast their direction into the vast forestry of space before her. She rubbed her temples, easing the knots that threatened to bulge out. Clouds of confusion made it difficult to think clearly. For days now, it had been hanging over her, gaining momentum.

‘What is it, Princess Hart? What is it that’s troubling you so deeply? I haven’t seen you looking so dull and gloomy in a very long while.’ Mary continued her duties of fluffing and straightening the bed covers with intermittent glances of suspicion. ‘You really don’t seem like yourself these last few days gone?’

That being the truth, for she did not feel herself. Far from it. Mary studied Hart, her curled wisps of silver hair escaping the confines of her crisp, white coif cap. Mary’s hands crossed over her bosom, demanding and unapologetic. She could read Hart like an open book. After all, Mary had known her from birth and with it, been privy to every nuance she ever possessed.

A fleeting memory of being scolded for sneaking apple cakes out of the kitchen brought a quick, half-smile to Hart. It had taken place right under chef Cecily’s nose. Hart had begged Mary’s forgiveness, telling her she had given them away to a band of travelling musicians making their journey across Berrain borders. Told not leave the castle walls, Hart tuned into the melodic notes as they wafted in, enticing her with the bright sounds of the hurdy-gurdy as well as the mellow flute. Mary’s reprimand returned today with an echo.

‘Hart! Not only have you given away the family’s afternoon tea but you have lowered yourself to stealing. Your father will be disappointed in you and in your actions. Especially you being a princess. Ha!’

Hart had cried then, unable to be held in such disregard by her. And yet, Mary had defended Hart, telling her father they had been spoiled: just a burnt batch of apple cakes. The guilt felt at that moment covering for her was nothing compared to the guilt Hart chose to hide now. She felt traitorous. But even more so, she felt fear.

As Hart had done long before, the white lies slipped out like sweet, fresh honey.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.